The Journey to Circuit Optimisation Starts with the Small Stuff

In comminution circuit design and optimisation, emphasis is often placed on the shiny, bright lights of innovation, equipment selection and flowsheet configuration. In a keynote lecture at Comminution '27, Dr. Richard (Ted) Bearman, of Bear Rock Solutions, Australia, will argue that small stuff is frequently dismissed but cumulatively can create significant losses in throughput, equipment availability and product quality. Beyond that there are also concomitant effects on power and circuit effectiveness, which may lessen the original benefits and dim the brighter future being pursued.

Ted will examine these "micro-losses" within crushing and grinding circuits, drawing on site-based experience and assessments across multiple operations. To illustrate the points, specific operational cases will be provided to show what can happen, why it occurred and steps to avoid such situations. By sweating the "Small Stuff", through timely identification of issues, focused attention and systematic operational analysis, the aim is to demonstrate that substantial improvements in comminution circuit performance can be achieved. 

Richard (Ted) Bearman, holds a B.Eng and PhD from the Camborne School of Mines, UK, and has been working in comminution and technology for 39 years.  He has worked for equipment suppliers, research organisations and mining companies and since 2009 has operated the Bear Rock Solutions consulting business.  Dr. Bearman has a focus on technology, comminution, systems optimisation, simulation and effectiveness of resource recovery, all within the context of cross-functional studies spanning geology, mining and processing. 

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